Multi-angulated catheter

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a multi-angulated catheter and methods of using the multi-angulated catheter. The multi-angulated catheter is so dimensioned as to facilitate accessing the left ventricle from an arm of a patient. The multi-angulated catheter generally includes in order: (a) a coiled end; (b) a first straight portion having a first straight portion length; (c) a first shaft including a distal end connected to the first straight portion and a proximal end opposite the distal end, the first shaft and the first straight portion defining a first obtuse angle, the first shaft having a first shaft length; and (d) a second shaft connected to the first shaft on said proximal end. The catheter is flexible so as to afford being straightened when it is advanced over a guide wire. The catheter resiliently returns to a multi-angulated position after the guide wire is withdrawn.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A multi-angulated catheter comprising, in order:
 (a) a coiled end; 
 (b) a first straight portion having a first straight portion length; 
 (c) a first shaft including a distal end connected to said first straight portion and a proximal end opposite said distal end, said first shaft having a first shaft length; and 
 (d) a second shaft connected to said first shaft on said proximal end, 
 wherein in a first viewing plane of the multi-angulated catheter in a first state, said first shaft is disposed at a first obtuse angle with respect to the first straight portion and said second shaft is disposed at a second obtuse angle with respect to the first shaft, 
 wherein in a second viewing plane of the multi-angulated catheter in the first state, said first shaft and said second shaft define a plane such that an angle between the first shaft and the second shaft is 0 degrees, 
 wherein in the second viewing plane of the multi-angulated catheter in the first state, said first straight portion extends out of the plane defined by said first and second shaft, and 
 wherein the first viewing plane is perpendicular to the second viewing plane, 
 wherein the first state of multi-angulated catheter is a multi-angulated position, 
 wherein, when a guidewire is inserted through the multi-angulated catheter, the multi-angulated catheter is straightened, and 
 wherein when the guidewire is removed, the multi-angulated catheter resiliently returns to the first state. 
 
     
     
       2. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said first straight portion extends from said plane at an angle of 5° to 140°. 
     
     
       3. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said first straight portion length is 15 mm to 40 mm. 
     
     
       4. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said first shaft length is 20 mm to 40 mm. 
     
     
       5. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said first obtuse angle is 105° to 140°. 
     
     
       6. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said second obtuse angle is 135° to 150°. 
     
     
       7. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said proximal end is positioned from said coiled end at a distance of 30 mm to 60 mm. 
     
     
       8. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said second shaft has a second shaft length, and said second shaft length is greater than said first shaft length. 
     
     
       9. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said first straight portion length, said first shaft length, and said first obtuse angle are so dimensioned as to facilitate accessing a left ventricle from an arm of a patient. 
     
     
       10. A multi-angulated catheter, comprising:
 a first straight portion adjacent a distal end of the multi-angulated catheter; 
 a first shaft extending from a proximal end of the first straight portion; and 
 a second shaft extending from a proximal end of the first shaft, 
 wherein in a first viewing plane of the multi-angulated catheter in a first state, the first shaft is disposed at a first obtuse angle with respect to the first straight portion and the second shaft is disposed at a second obtuse angle with respect to the first shaft, 
 wherein in a second viewing plane of the multi-angulated catheter in the first state, the first shaft and the second shaft define a plane such that an angle between the first shaft and the second shaft is 0 degrees, 
 wherein in the second viewing plane of the multi-angulated catheter in the first state, the first straight portion extends out of the plane defined by the first and second shafts, 
 wherein the first viewing plane is perpendicular to the second viewing plane, 
 wherein the first state of multi-angulated catheter is a multi-angulated position, 
 wherein, when a guidewire is inserted through the multi-angulated catheter, the multi-angulated catheter is straightened, and 
 wherein when the guidewire is removed, the multi-angulated catheter resiliently returns to the first state. 
 
     
     
       11. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 10 , wherein one of the first and second obtuse angles is a positive angle and the other is a negative angle. 
     
     
       12. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the first straight portion, the first shaft, and the second shaft form a generally concave shape. 
     
     
       13. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 10 , further comprising a coiled end extending from a distal end of the first straight portion. 
     
     
       14. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the first obtuse angle is 105° to 140°. 
     
     
       15. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the second obtuse angle is 135° to 150°. 
     
     
       16. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the second shaft is longer than the first shaft. 
     
     
       17. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the total length of the first straight portion and first shaft is between 30 mm and 60 mm. 
     
     
       18. The multi-angulated catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the first straight portion extends out of the plane at an angle between 5° and 140°.